Shoe-heel cushion.



J. PIETZUCH.

SHOE HEEL CUSHION. APPLICATlON FILED NOV. 16. 1911.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

INVENTOR.

Warns ears arm rrc.

JOSEPH PIETZUCH, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SHOE-HEEL CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, rate.

Application filed November 16, 1917. Serial No. 202,411.

tread therefor, made in composite form of sections, suitably disposedthroughout the tread area. of the heel, said sections having varyingdensity of material that the sections will vary in degree of resiliencyor be more or less yieldable.

In walking, the back outer part of the tread receives .the first impact,stress or strain from the foot and the weight supported thereby, andthen as the step con tinues or progresses the strain or weight rollsforward to the inner forward edge of the heel and when the full weightof the body is brought on the heel the weight is distributed throughoutthe heel.

The foot arch must be properly and uniformly retained in its natural ornormal contour 'or trouble and foot ailments will result. The object of'my invention is to form a shoe heel cushion which will properly supportthe foot and provide comfort and ease in walkingnd keep the arch innormal condition and contour by taking care of the strains first andlast imparted to the heel in walking. In order to evolve a heel or heelcushion of this kind-and character I form a heel cushion of two parts ofrubber or analogous material, both placed transversely across the heel,one at the rear part of the heel and one at the forward part thereof,the two parts when made of rubber vulcanized and amalgamated together attheir meeting point. To further carry out the invention I make thesepieces or sections of varying degrees of resiliency, the outer onesofter and more resilient than the inner one, which is made of moredensity and firmness. lhe heel cushion is made integral, but of parts asdescribed.

It will be noted that the outer or rear surface extends fromapproximately the central transverse line of the shoe heel backward tothe peripheral edge of the heel and the forward portion extends fromthis line forward to the inner heel edge, approximately where the footarch begins.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1, is a bottom plan View of a shoe, with my new heel cushionshown in position,

Fig. 2, is an isometric view of the heel cushion detached from the shoe,and

Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section taken on, line 33 of Fig. 1, the soleand upper partly broken away.

The sole of the shoe is marked 1, the

' leather heel 2 and the upper 3. My new heel cushion is composed ofparts, blocks or sections 4- and 5; the nail or screw holes 6 and thenails 7 for holdin the cushion on the leather heel part 2. he meetingline of the parts 4 and 5 is marked 8. The heel part 4 is made orcomposed of softer, more yielding and more resilient material than thepart 5, which is less yieldable and resilient and more firm and still".

The part 4 is made-of such a degree of resiliency that it willcounteract and absorb the initial strain, pressure and shock imparted bythe foot when first set down in walking and as walking progresses andthe strain, pressure and shock are transferred more upon the part 5 atthe forward part of the heel where more resistance is necessary and theless degree of resiliency needed, as, at this latter point, towar theinner edge, the foot arch begins and therefore the support must be firmto maintain the arch of the foot where it begins in a well supportedposition. It will be seen from the construction of my cushion heel treadthat the strain will be properly and evenly distributed as greater orless in size as neededor found practical in use.

My new heel cushion will wear evenly and thus remain in a position toalways maintain normal walking action and keep the foot in proper poisein the shoe.

By using my new foot heel cushion ailments of the foot are relieved andwith persons who step on the back edge of the heel very hard it is anabsolute necessity to properly guide the arch of the foot.

\Vhat I claim as new and my invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

A rubber heel cushion composed of a forward and a rear section madeintegral and forming the tread area of the heel, said cushion made ofrubber material, the said sections divided by a transverse lineapproximately near the middle of the heel, the

rear section lying back of said line and the forward section lying infront of said line, the rear section being softer and havi a, greaterdegree of resiliency than the forward section which is harder and lessresilient; v

In testimony whereof I afix my signature 20 in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH PIETZUCH.

